A galaxy in secret peril from a hidden foe that defies mortal comprehension. A powerful organization claiming altruistic ends while working to advance a shadowy agenda. A team of comprised of assassins, mercenaries, borderline sociopaths and former foes. A Commander returned from beyond the veil of death.
Mass Effect 2 looks, on paper at least, like typical enough sci-fi fare. But ask anyone who has actually spent the hours to navigate its tension-filled storyline, streamlined gameplay mechanics and web of complex characters and I would be willing to bet you that “typical” is not a word you would ever see used to describe it.
But don’t take my word for it. Hit the jump and see what two of CFD!’s editors had to say, regarding why Mass Effect 2 is a contender for our 2010 Game of the Year.
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Rob R.: Fantastic visuals, engaging characters, a ridiculously dynamic story and the sense that what you’ve done as well as what you’re doing have all been leading toward an epic climax. These are only a handful of the reasons I love Mass Effect 2. No other game in my collection, amassed over almost twenty five years — no other game — has stayed in my console and in my possession as long as this one has. The only reason I would ever get rid of it is if the upcoming PS3 version somehow offers “more.”
Hayley: When it comes to delivering a game that feels like my own personal story, BioWare does it better than anyone. With Mass Effect 2 they built from the first part in a way that played both to and against my expectations. I’d often find myself reacting to a character as if they were an actual being! From the intriguing start through to the nail-biting excitement of the finale, I simply couldn’t pull myself away from this finely crafted story. It’s about as close to perfect as games get!
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Mass Effect 2 has set the bar pretty high in a number of areas; so much so that one is left to wonder how Mass Effect 3 can possibly top it. But is it powerful enough to best the other four contenders and take home Crush! Frag! Destroy!’s Game of the Year trophy for 2010? Stay tuned and find out New Year’s Eve.
In the meantime, chime in in the comments below and let us know how you felt about your experiences with Mass Effect 2.
